Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats (ED) led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková European Parliament elections.

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Presentation on theme: "Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats (ED) led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková European Parliament elections."— Presentation transcript:

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats (ED) led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR OUR SUCCESS IN EUROPE Who are we? What do we want? Would you like to support us? Information about European Parliament elections

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková Who are we? Union of Independents (SNK)... is a political movement that has scored very well in regional and communal elections since its foundation in 2000. It first ran for nationwide parliamentary elections in 2002 and won 2,78 % of votes. In autumn 2002 it won two seats in the Senate. Recent opinions polls indicate that in early elections, if they were to take place now, the movement would jump over the 5 % limit for acquiring parliamentary seat. The Union of Independents (SNK) is chaired by Igor Petrov, the Mayor of the City of Třinec. www.snk.cz European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková Who are we? European Democrats (ED)... is a young political party that came into being in the summer of 2002. So far they ran for communal and regional elections in Prague in autumn 2002. In the Prague elections they won over 18 % of votes and currently have 15 mandates in the Prague Municipal Assembly, which makes them the strongest opposition party in the city. Since then the ED have been building up their nationwide structure. The party is chaired by Jan Kasl, the former Mayor of the City of Prague. www.edemokrate.cz European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Who are we? The leading tandem Our election list presents the following candidates: 1. Josef Zieleniec www.zieleniec.cz Senator (since November 2000), economist (co-founder of CERGE-EI, the Prague Centre for Postgraduate Economic Studies), former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1992-1997), delgate to the Convention on the Future of Europe (2002-2003), 58 years old; fluent in English and Polish 2. Jana Hybášková www.hybaskova.cz Ambassador, Middle East and transatlantic relation expert, former Czech Ambassador to Slovenia (1997-2000) and Kuwait (2002-2004), advisor to the Czech negotiator with the EU P.Telička (2001- 2002), member of the strike committee of the Faculty of Arts, Charles University Prague, in November 1989, 39 years old; fluent in English, Arabic, Slovenian Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková Who are we? doc. Ing. Josef Zieleniec, CSc. Senator, (Independent, in 2000 elected as a candidate of the then Quad-Coalition), former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and delegate to the Convention on the Future of Europe. After the announcement of the results of the Czech EU referendum in June 2003, he called on the political parties of the centre and right wing to offer a joint alternative to those Czechs voters - whose attitude towards Czech membership in the EU is positive and active - who do not want to vote left. Such an alternative had been missing on the Czech political scene. The representatives of SNK and ED accepted this call and agreed with Josef Zieleniec on drafting a list of candidates supported by both political bodies. www.zieleniec.cz European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www. ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková Who are we? PhDr. Jana Hybášková Internationally recognized expert on terrorism and the Middle East; former Czech ambassador to Kuwait during the Iraqi operation; assisted the Czech anti-chemical weapon division in their successful work in Iraq. She was recalled by the Czech government following her open criticism of the withdrawal of the 7th Czech Field Hospital from Iraq. She was member of the EU negotiation team and advisor to State Secretary Pavel Telička. What can she offer to the centre and right-wing voters? - her international experience - an open, active and positive approach to achieving Czech success in Europe. www.hybaskova.cz European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www. ceskyuspech.cz

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Who are we? Our list of candidates Our candidate list has been compiled on the basis of the following principles: -we prioritize personal qualities of candidates; neither SNK nor ED try to assert their party officials. - there are reputable and respected candidates from across the Czech Republic even at lower positions on our list, which demonstrates their strong support to our objectives and our political mission. - the ambition of our list is to represent different regions of the Czech Republic, as well as all different professions, social and age groups, and both sexes. - our candidates have all necessary prerequisites to perform the office of an MEP, ranging from language skills to personal integrity. Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková What do we want? In the European parliament... …to represent the Czech Republic in a respectable and creative way. Our candidates have all the necessary qualities to become recognized partners in the European Parliament, whose voice will be heard and listened to. …to strengthen the right wing of the EP, its pro-European orientation and support to the transatlantic link. …we will advocate Europe becoming more liberal and more open and acquiring a stronger operational and decision-making momentum. We want the European Parliament to accentuate the strategic partnership between Europe and the United States of America. European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková What do we want? In the European parliament... … to actively co-shape the position of the EP on the most important issues that will be on the agenda 2004 – 2009. - European Constitution We support swift adoption of the Constitution of the European Union, based on the Draft presented by the Convention on the Future of Europe. - Financial perspectives We want the new members to receive what they are entitled to, in the light of the common practice of the Union after all previous enlargements. Our MEPs will strive for reduction of CAP expenditure, raising investment into education, research and development, as well as assisting underdeveloped regions. They will equally promote setting a fixed limit for administration expenditure. - New European Commission Our MEPs will promote the idea of European Commissioners who will not only have the necessary personal qualities and expertise, but also represent the political will of the majority of European voters, i.e. their selection should linked to the results of the elections. - Reform of structural policy Our MEPs will support extended budgetary funding of this area, as well as simplification of administrative procedures and combat against misuse of European money. - Enlargement We feel a responsability to help other Eastern European countries wishing to join the EU. European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková What do we want? Change the Czech discourse about our EU membership. The atmosphere related to our accession has been skeptical, full of concerns, ignorance and fatalism. The dominant political forces reduce the debate on our membership to disputes about funding and petty personal issues. We reject the passive attitude towards our membership. - EU is not paradise on earth, where everybody will be doing well, as the government coalition purports - however, it is not a hostile environment either, where we have to defend ourselves against enemies, as the Communist Party and Civic Democrats claim. EU is a historic opportunity for us. And it is up to us, how we use it. Our early years in the EU require a comprehensive and clear policy program that would help us find our place in the new world. Both the government and the opposition have failed to come up with such policy. European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková What do we want? Offer a policy for our first membership years. In our election campaign and through the activity of our MEPs in the Czech Republic after the elections, we want to change the existing negative discourse about the EU. We believe that: - the membership itself is not an automatic guarantee of prosperity or disaster - it is up to us to believe in ourselves, be determined and act. Therefore we offer our voters: - an active and positive political program - a vision of our future in the EU - a road map to achieve Czech success in the united Europe European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková What do we want? Our strategy is based on three pillars: - active policy in the EU aiming at building up the position of the Czech Republic in the European institutions and securing a reputation of a cultural, economic and political centre - investment into education - investment into transport and utility infrastructure - significant simplification of the legislation, reduction of bureaucracy and taxation, boosting a business-friendly environment - curbing corruption - multi-faceted support to openness and international orientation of the Czech Republic; introduction of English as a second language of communication in the main public offices. European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková What do we want? Bring Europe to the Czech Republic. Our MEPs will not disappear in Brussels, but will: - connect the events in Europe to life at home - offer citizens undistorted information about the EU - draw attention to both chances and risks - integrate European issues into Czech politics European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková What do we want? Open the space for a new alternative in domestic politics, too. The key to success in the EU lies at home. Europe will not carry out our reforms for us. It is us who will have to enforce them in domestic politics. In Czech politics, there is no political entity that is aware of what has to be done and willing to do it. As a result, in the European elections we want to: - convince as many voters as possible of the necessity to have a clear policy for our early EU membership - win a strong mandate for our vision of the Czech success in Europe - subsequently participate in domestic political life, which would secure carrying out this vision on national level. European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková Do you want to support us? 1.Do you want to express your support? Would you like to offer cooperation or assistance? please send us an e-mail: info@ceskyuspech.czinfo@ceskyuspech.cz zieleniecj@senat.cz jana@hybaskova.czjana@hybaskova.cz info@edemokrate.cz info@snk.czinfo@snk.cz 2. Do you want to provide us with financial assistance? please send your donation to the following accounts: ED 51-0638640277/0100 SNK č. 154569857/0600 We will provide you a deed of donation. Sdružení nezávislých a Evropských demokratů European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz

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Joint candidate list of the Union of Independents (SNK) and European Democrats led by Josef Zieleniec and Jana Hybášková Elections to the European Parliament will be held on Friday, 11 June 2004 from 2 to 10 p.m. and on Saturday, 12 June 2004 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the entire Czech Republic is one constituency; voters everywhere in the country will select from the same lists of candidates; the elections are based on the principle of proportional representation; the system is similar to that of national parliamentary elections. the votes for parties which do not win over 5 % of votes are not counted in. each voter has two preferential votes You will find more detailed information on the election at www.mvcr.czwww.mvcr.cz European Parliament elections held on 11 and 12 June 2004 www.ceskyuspech.cz